Surgical instrument



Sept. 14, 1943. B. F. GLASSER SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 26, 1942 .2 Sheets-sheaf 1 FIGURE I FIGURE n FIGURE III I J INVENTOR. 3W NW N W Sept. 14, 1943.

B. F. GLASSER SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 26, 1942 FIGURE V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BENJAMIN FGLASSER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY str'uments episiotomy.

- bled in anoperative position.

, Patented Sept. 14, 1943 r invention relates generally to I strur'ne'nts, and specifically to episiotomesj or inaiding in the performance of an 'I-Ieretofore, the "performance of an episiotomy [has frequently been complijc'atedby the difficulty 'oi,making aperfect anatomical repair, i. e., by

difliculty in arranging perfect coincidence of the skingfaciamuscle, and mucous membrane when "the'suturesare applied." There has often been a 2. 29.264 RG AL Beniamin r nk, N. J.

- f i Ap lication JunefZG, 1942, s''ria1iivbf445,519

' tems; (ones-43st 'long period of" time necessaryito carefullyfand";

"correctly appl -sutures. The f application of 'sulfonamide powders has interfered with the proper suturing 3 9 13y the us'eof myepisiotome, the skin, facia, muscle, and mucous membrane are pre-aligned before. the cut is made because the sutures are applied before the cut. Perfect-,re-alignment is achieved. When the operation i over, the tissues are pre-aligned. No time is wasted; The sulfonf amide powders of choice may be applied without interfering with perfect reclosure. Perfect re- "closure is possible,even by one who has not had frequentpractice in this particular type of surgery. These objects and advantages, as well as many other objects and advantages, are achieved by the use of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, FigureI is a view in perspective of the body member of the episiotome.

Figure II is a view in perspective of the base 7 plate member of the episiotome.

Figure III is a view in perspective of the guide plate member of the episiotome.

' Figure IV is aview of the episiotome assem- Figure V i a view ative position.

The invention is comprised of a body member of the guide plate in oper- I having a retaining block 2 and a positioning block 3 at opposite ends thereof. Intermediate of the retaining block 2 and the positioningblock 3, there is located a plurality of separators 4.

The retaining block 2 is of a. height slightly greater than the separators 4, and is provided with a retaining groove 5 in the side facing the posi- ,tioning block 3. This groove 5 is at a height approximately that of the separators 4. The retaining block 2 is also provided with two holes 6, 6 passing entirely through the block. 2. The positioning block 3, is provided with two pins 1, '1. As the positioning block 3 is of the exact height of the separatorsl, the pins 1, I are substantially higher than the separators, as illustrated'in Figure I. I

retain f' eu with; bev edge is intendedjft'o fitin t'o groove 5. The opposite endof 'f the i v b'ase plate ,8 signed tov somewha 1,.

, ,pry d ih /h s 9. eye-s the pins .1; 1. Theholes' 9,1;9 are ."Ifhje'" guidef'plate "I o, illustrated in Figure an. is

evmec withfa -leenter,"guide channel ffQLThe guide,plate' liiis alsoprovided with two sharp pins l2 and atlthejoppo'site endyt'wo holes A seriesidf-"notches 1'4," I4,;etc'., are located on'ithej outside of the guide plate [Bat points corresponiiin'g with" the openings between the separators]. 1 Thevarious elements of -theepisiotomeare preferably of metal although other materials,

such as plastics, maypossibly be used.

The use of the episiotome is'as' follows.- beveled edge l5 of the base-plate 8, is engaged with the retaining groove 5, and the holes 9, 9 I

are engaged with the pins 1, v1. Since the holes 9, 9 are somewhatlargerin circumference than the pins 1, 1, this may be effected because of the longitudinal movement'of the base plate 8 thereby permitted. The plate 8 and the body, member l as thus conjoined are inserted into the vaginal vault. -The pins l2, l2 are now inserted into the perineum; l8' at the desired level and the plate 8 and body member I are'manipulated tocause the pins I2, 12 to enter .the holes 6, 6. When this has been efiected, the holes i3, 'l3'are engaged with the pin 1, "I, and the entire instrument pressed tightly together.

Sutures of appropriate length are now inserted in the perineum bya curved needle and passed a through the space between the separators 4, 4," etc. The ends'of sutures are left free but may be, for-convenience, passed through a small ring attached to the linen of the patient and held together by a small clamp so asto be out of the way. The notches l4 act as guides for the inser Since theneedle passes through the skin, facia, muscle; and mucous membrane when entering, and the same layers when leaving, but in reverse, there is perfect tion of the needle.

anatomical alignment of the four layers because no incision has yet been made. The episiotomy is now performed by using a scalpel or. scissors to make'a cut I! on the part of the perineum ap-, pearing in the channel I l. The instrument is now disengaged from the perineum leaving the sutures, and delivery is effected. The sulfonamide, powders of choice may now be used. The sutures may then be tied, the layers falling automati cally into perfect alignment.

i ee in r tme eew s we.. i

I intend the drawing and specification as merely illustrative of my invention as many changes in the precise form thereof may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A surgical instrument comprising a body member having atone end a grooved retaining block, with a hole extending therethrough, at the other end a positioning block withapin-extending therefrom; and a plurality of separators intermediate of the retaining and positioning blocks; a retaining plate positioned on'the bodymember engaged with the groove of the retainf ing block and the pin of the positioningblock'; a guide plate having a plurality of notches along each of its marginal edges, a central .longitu dinal channel, a sharp pin adjacent to the opening of the channel, ahole adjacent to the'i end, of the channel, the said guide plate being adapted to 'bep'o'si-tioned 'on'the body memberjover the re- *taining block with the pin thereof engaged with *t'hfeh01e' of the retaining block and'jthe liol'e engaged'withthe pin of the positioning block;

21A surgical instrument comprising a body member havinga plurality of separators; "a retaming-plate positioned over the separators iwhe'reby the openings between them are closed a guide plate'having a central channel positioned over the retaining-plate," and having "notches thereon whereby the location of openings between 'the separatorsare indicated.

. ,3. A surgical instrument comprising a body ime'mber having a pluralit of separators; aretaining plate disengageably associated therewith whereby the openings between the separators are closed; a guide-plate disengageably associated with the body member over the retainin plate; and having a channel and. notches; along the side edge, said notches beingpositioned to indicate the location of the spaces between the sepa- 'rators.

4. A' surgical instrument comprising a body Lmember having a plurality ozfseparatm's; a closure plate associated therewith 'over the separaters; a channeled plate associated with the body member over the plate, with indicating mean s thereon to show the location of the spaces a between the separators. 1

5A surgical instrument comprising a body member having a plurality of transverse channels formed thereon? a retaining member positioned over the transverse channels whereby their open sides areclosed; a guide member havin a central channel positioned 'ove'rthe retaining member, and having'indicating means'thereon correspondence with the channels of the'body member.

6.,Asurgical instrument comprising ,afbo'dy memberhaving 'a'fp'luralit of transverse channels formed thereon; 'a retaining member positioned over the transverse channels whereby their open s'ides are closed; a guide memberhaving a-central channel positioned toverthe retainingmenifber, and having indicating means'thereon incorrespondence with the channels of the body memher; p'in receiving holes in the body memberf 'and sharp pointed pins 'on'the guide memben. t vBFl NJAIVJINQI ."(.xL-AS'SER. 

